Life is precious

 My Fall writing not Forgotten....

This morning, my husband and I attended the Celebration of Life of a good friend from our church family.  We joined this church some 40 years ago and CB and his family joined some 30 years ago. We listened with tears in our eyes as our minister spoke of the recollection of meeting CB on the first day of his arrival to lead the parish some 15 years ago. You see, this was a tough service for our minister as he and CB had become really good friends ever since that first day. CB was friends with everyone. His beautiful daughters recalled their father as the best example in the world of how to lead your life, just go out and enjoy and love every day and take good care of everyone around you.

For the past 1 ½ years CB battled that dreaded ‘C’ disease with grace, dignity and a love of life second to none. As a strong tenor in our choir, now his voice silent, we were uplifted this morning by singing all his favourite hymns and reciting all his favourite bible readings.

I leave my writings now remembering these words from the refrain of one of my favourite hymns. Turns out we sang this hymn that morning, because it too was CB’s favourite hymn.

 

“Lord of the Dance”

Dance then wherever you may be:

I am the Lord of the Dance said he:

I’ll lead you all wherever you may be,

I will lead you all in the Dance said he.

 

There is a new leader in heaven this week.

 Marilyn Stubberfield

November 3^rd, 2016

PS: Sunday June 4, 2017 after church, marks the dedication day of one of CB's proudest project's, our extra parking lot. We will be there.

 

Udderly Beautiful

 

This is a fun story I am about to share. This past winter our friends Ed and Rose came to the sunny south and spent Christmas with us. A treat, because Rose and I had a good chance to catch up on all the things that spark our interests. I casually remarked to her, your complexion is beautiful. What on earth are you putting on your face? Eager to share her success, “ Udderly” she exclaims.  It is a cream they developed from having much success over the years caring for the udders of cows. Really! That sounds good enough for me.

As I begin my search of this product to replace the jar left behind for me from my generous friend, and after reading lots of reviews etc., I decide I must have some of my own.  My Amazon order arrives in this huge box, I immediately tuck it away in the closet to open when Bill is gone golfing all the time pondering the size of the box. On-line shoppers can relate to that.

A few short weeks later, over morning coffee, Rose and I are discussing our beloved networking group LINK. She shares with me her plans for a door prize for the next evening’s meeting. At this point, I scramble into my office to get her replacement cream out of the big box long forgotten in the closet.

"Yikes", I exclaim, "I think I have door prize material too". If not, I will have a life time supply of Udderly Smooth, you see the big box carried 6 jars, each 12 oz.  

Some lucky LINK ladies will be looking "Udderly Beautiful" in the coming months.

Maybe “Haste did not make Waste” this time.

 

A Little Story gives a Gift to reflect on

As my guest blogger Sandra mentioned recently “…..remember to slow down and not let a moment pass without considering its gifts”. Lots of stories are twirling around in my mind these days however as I reflected on my writings I have stored in my journal, I wanted to share this one from heading south last Fall…….

“It is little things that can tell a story.” Our first morning stop of the day happened through the acrid smoke of the wild fires and the red ball of the sun that peeks out as we pull into the parking lot.

Upon entering the restaurant, my eyes are jetted to the corner. There sitting in 2 tables put together are 6 senior men, coffees in hand, solving all the problems of the world. Voices by some are elevated, hearing the occasional word “Hillary” and “Trump”. I can just imagine what they are saying.

Whoa, all of a sudden, one fellow pops up from his seat and all attention turns to the car that just pulled into the gas station out front. “What year is it?” “Where is it going?” “I did not know there was a car show in town.”

I am pleased their attention has turned from politics so as I head to the ladies room, I stop and say “Good morning fellows, glad to see you gentlemen are enjoying some fellowship together.” And just when I thought they were focused on politics and old cars, the leader from the coffee klatch remarks, “We have been coming here every day since the day we retired, it keeps us healthy and oh, by the way, tell your husband it is a bit chilly for shorts this morning.”

Little do they know, Bill has worn shorts most days since retiring, it just seems like the right thing to do as we head to our winter home.

My gift of the moment.

Marilyn Stubberfield

Written November 21, 2016, gifted to readers May, 2017